Current Requirements Center on Fixed Deposits, But That’s Not the Whole Budget
Anyone researching the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program will run into different versions of the monthly income, liquid asset, and fixed deposit figures that circulate online. Before budgeting against any threshold, it is worth confirming which program and which batch of application conditions a given figure actually refers to.
Under the current federal MM2H program, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC)’s official FAQ confirms that the offshore income requirement has been removed across all categories. Applicants who are preparing for retirement and do not have a fixed monthly salary no longer need to meet the old monthly income figures.
However, removing the offshore income threshold does not mean the fixed deposit is the only sum to plan for. The federal program still carries a property purchase requirement, a participation fee, and other application costs, and the source documents needed for the fund transfer and bank account opening should be prepared separately.
When comparing categories, it helps to look at three separate pools of money at once: the fixed deposit that must be placed in a bank, the property purchase and processing costs, and the everyday living funds that remain freely available after the move.
How Fixed Deposit Thresholds Line Up With Age
The federal MM2H program’s current fixed deposit and main applicant age requirements are as follows:
| Category | Main Applicant Age | Fixed Deposit Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 25 and above | USD 1,000,000 |
| Gold | 25 and above | USD 500,000 |
| Silver | 25 and above | USD 150,000 |
| SEZ/SFZ | 21–49 | USD 65,000 |
| SEZ/SFZ | 50 and above | USD 32,000 |
The fixed deposit must be placed with a licensed financial institution in Malaysia, as required by the program.
Age and the fixed deposit amount are conditions that must be met together. The lower deposit threshold for applicants aged 50 and above applies only within the SEZ/SFZ category; it cannot be carried over to the Silver, Gold, or Platinum categories, and turning 50 does not automatically lower the deposit requirement for those other categories.
SEZ/SFZ also comes with its own designated zones and property arrangements. So when choosing a category, applicants need to weigh not just the deposit amount but also whether they are willing to fit their residence and property plans around that category’s requirements.
The Deposit Isn’t Frozen, But Withdrawals Come With Conditions
Once approved into the federal MM2H program, participants are allowed to withdraw up to 50% of the fixed deposit principal, for designated uses within Malaysia such as property purchase, education, medical care, or travel.
This is a conditional withdrawal arrangement, not a right to freely take out half the deposit right after opening the account. The actual timing of the application, the proof of use required, and the bank’s disbursement process should follow the official requirements and the approval documents issued.
When budgeting, it can help to plan first around the full fixed deposit amount, then treat any eligible withdrawal as a later step in the funding schedule. This matters especially for applicants who intend to use part of the deposit toward a property purchase: the withdrawal procedure needs to be lined up against the payment deadlines in the sale and purchase agreement, so the same funds are not committed to two purposes at the same time.
The fixed deposit remains the applicant’s own money, but its liquidity is limited by the program’s conditions. Day-to-day living expenses and an emergency fund are best kept separate from it.
State-Level Requirements: Federal and Sarawak Rules Don’t Mix
Sarawak’s S-MM2H program has its own, separate financial requirements, and the federal program’s removal of the offshore income threshold does not carry over to it.
Under Sarawak’s current guidelines, the main applicant must place a fixed deposit of RM500,000 with a designated participating bank in the state, and must separately provide qualifying financial proof:
- Pension or overseas income: RM10,000 per month for a single applicant; RM15,000 per month if bringing dependents.
- Applicants without a qualifying pension or overseas income: proof of savings can be submitted instead, showing an end-of-month balance of RM100,000 for a single applicant or RM200,000 with dependents over the most recent three months, subject to approval.
In other words, the S-MM2H fixed deposit and the additional financial proof are two separate requirements; meeting the RM500,000 deposit alone should not be assumed to satisfy all of the fund conditions.
Withdrawal rules also differ: under S-MM2H, participants may apply to withdraw up to 50% of the deposit for designated purposes after one full year of participation, while maintaining the required minimum balance. Property purchase under S-MM2H is optional, unlike the federal program’s mandatory property purchase requirement.
Applicants whose target is Sabah should check the separate Sabah-MM2H program; East Malaysia should not be treated as a single, unified application system.
What to Check Next
If your funds already meet a given category’s fixed deposit requirement, the next step is to list out the property purchase, official fees, agent services, medical checkup, and insurance costs, and confirm that enough living and emergency funds remain after the application is complete.
If you are comparing two categories, it helps to weigh age, target place of residence, willingness to purchase property, and available funds together. The category with the lower fixed deposit is not necessarily the one that best fits your living plans.
If Sarawak is the preferred route, first confirm which type of additional financial proof you can provide before arranging the fixed deposit, rather than transferring the funds first and only then discovering that the income or savings documentation is not ready.
FAQ
Q1: Does the current MM2H program still have the old monthly income threshold?
The federal MM2H program’s official FAQ confirms that the offshore income requirement has been removed for all categories, though the fixed deposit, property purchase, and other application conditions remain. Sarawak’s S-MM2H has its own separate pension, overseas income, or savings proof requirements; the two programs’ conditions should not be mixed.
Q2: Is the fixed deposit completely inaccessible once it’s placed?
No. The federal MM2H program allows withdrawal of up to 50% of the deposit for designated purposes, subject to the relevant procedures and proof of use. Sarawak’s S-MM2H has its own timing and use conditions for withdrawals, which cannot simply be substituted with the federal program’s rules.
Q3: Can Sarawak’s fund requirement be met using a federal MM2H fixed deposit instead?
No, the two cannot be treated as interchangeable. The two programs have separate requirements for banks, deposits, and supporting documents. Anyone who already holds one of the two passes and is considering switching programs should first confirm the procedure for releasing the existing deposit and setting up the new one before arranging any fund transfer.
Disclaimer
This article is based on official federal MM2H and Sarawak S-MM2H materials publicly available as of September 2026, and is intended mainly to help new applicants with initial planning. It does not constitute individual immigration or financial advice. Conditions for existing pass holders may vary by approval batch; fixed deposit, withdrawal, and conversion arrangements should be confirmed against the requirements of the relevant authority, approval documents, and the bank involved.
References
MOTAC — MM2H Category Overview; MOTAC — Frequently Asked Questions; Sarawak MTCP — S-MM2H Application Guidelines, 2025
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